|
FPS Creator Release Details
As of today we are predicting a release date of February 11th. This date is subject to change should the current testing phase throw up any unexpected issues, so watch the FPS Creator forum for the latest information.
We have also added some more features into FPS Creator which has already opened up new possibilities. For example trigger zones can now make other objects activate - you'd use this perhaps set off a trap when the player enters a dangerous area of your level. We also added in player check points - so after you create your game level, you can pick key areas where the player would be re-generated if he/she was killed. We have also added lots of extra key presses to make the level editing experience easier and more enjoyable.
The product will be a BROADBAND delivered title ONLY, as it's 400 Megs in size.
The price will be:
£30 = 43 Euros = $56
Anyone who purchases the EA version will automatically qualify for the full retail version when it is completed. There will be a shipping and packaging charge to pay, this will be announced when the weight of the retail version is known. The final version will also come with a printed manual.
Due to contractual agreements we cannot sell the EA version to anyone based in France. This is because we have an exclusive deal with Focus Marketing. French users must wait until Focus release the French version into the retail market.
Beta Group Opinions
As FPS Creator nears its EA release we thought it would be a good idea to solicit the opinions of some of the beta testers. These comments come from outside of The Game Creators and from people who have been getting down and dirty with FPSC for the past few months. These aren't just gratuitous compliments about FPSC, they also include comments on how the program works, the end result and areas for improvement. But it will certainly give you the impressions of those who are actually using the software today, even in its evolving state.
Jess Telford:
"It has been a great treat to test the EA release of FPS Creator. Going from speculation about what FPSC does, to actually using the application myself, and pushing it to the limits, I was astounded at the entire program. The First Use tutorial helped me get underway nice and quick, and I soon realized that in a matter of minutes, I had a fun, playable (albiet short) FPS game on my hands, all rolled up into a nice easy distributable package. After more playing around, it became apparent that almost everything was customizable, from how the enemy AI behaves, to what the rooms look like, to being able to pick up a cup from a desk, and move around the chair. Personally, I've never been one for the FPS games, but I think FPSC may have me creating and playing them in no time."
Dave Johnson:
"Originally I had no intention of purchasing the FPS Creator at all, but upon having the chance to privately test the product and get a closer look at its capabilities, my mind has definitely changed. The product provides the average user with the ability to create their first game in a matter of minutes, whilst the customisability and script-editing features allow the more advanced user to spend hours fine tuning their game down to the smallest detail so it looks and runs just like they imagined. If youre looking to make the next Doom 3 or Half-Life 2, look again. On the other hand, if you simply want to give your thriving FPS ideas a little life and don't want to spend weeks learning how to program, then FPS Creator should be perfect for you."
Robert Knight:
"FPS Creator's map editor is very user friendly, suitable even for artistically-challenged individuals like myself. FPS Creator is very good at creating simple arcade-style shooters, with enough flexibility to make it interesting for more advanced users as well. The ability to fine tune enemies and weapons makes it possible to create much more balanced gameplay. Graphically FPSC is solid but not stunning, with a little care the lightmapping can look quite atmospheric. FPSC gameplay is entertaining in a Serious Sam way."
"Where I think FPSC needs improvement is in terms of story-telling possibilities, the ability to display mission summaries or a secret map on screen or play a movie. The ability for users to vary the scenery and the characters more without having to resort to a full-blown modelling program would also be useful. The ability to spray dust, snow, or cracks and rubble onto segments for example, or to be able to select an individual segment and change its texture. The ability to scale segments to create more interesting architecture and get away from the 'blocky' look would also be welcome. I think a proper particle engine would also be a very welcome addition - the multiplayer won't work without some serious explosions, plasma bursts, smoke rising from guns and so on. Last but not least, any nifty additions for better gameplay the team can think of will be most welcome."
Andrew Vanbeck:
"The first thing that struck me about FPSC is how quickly I had a basic level constructed - no quicker had it loaded than I had a sci-fi room with a little corridor and a staircase leading up to another layer. It seems to love making little rooms and cutting details like doors and windows into the architecture - adding detail that would take forever to model and texture is simply painless. One thing that can lift a product like this is the ability to add your own media and ideas - even with the beta versions I'm able to throw my own media into the mix, collision is not even a concern and a spiral staircase that I added. I can't wait to see what people achieve with FPSC."
Eric Tomassetti:
"So far I've found FPS Creator to be an enjoyable experience. I normally wouldn't use a click solution to game creation, but I could find myself using this to relax from a day. The editor is easy, the games it builds are nice, and the overall speed from the compiled projects I have is great. I would highly recommend FPS Creator to anyone who was looking for a fast easy solution to creating the FPS games and don't have any programming experience."
Jason Dean:
"FPS Creator is very easy to pick up and go with. I had done my very first level after around 20 mins of playing. Then once you start to get more deeper into what you can do with it (with scripting, light mapping etc.) You suddenly find that things you thought cold not be done are suddenly available. I'm sure that lots of people will find that they can do things that even the programmers hadn't thought of. I'm currently working on a game based on a space ship along the lines of... "You are sent aboard a ship as a Junior Science Officer, you make your way through security up to the bridge. Once there the ship becomes under attack by an unknown force and you teleport to the crew quarters to keep out of everyone's way. Once you get there you find something sinister has happened..." The first level of the game will tell this story up to the teleport part. The second will be in the crew quarters. I'm having fun creating it (More than I thought I would). I can't wait to see and try levels other people have worked on."
Chris Blundell:
"FPS Creator is working like a dream at the moment. The editor is intuitive, easy and powerful and the lack of sub menus means that everything is at your fingertips. Even on a low spec machine like mine, the graphics look excellent and the lightmapping can turn your games into something that looks really special. It's great to be able to think about actually MAKING A GAME, rather than coding. And the possibilities of the level making really will shine within a few months of the EA version coming out. I'm buying myself a new computer for it! So if thats not recommendation enough, I don't know what is!!!"
You can see a whole stack of screen shots and videos this very issue in the next article!
FPS Creator Forum
We have created an FPS Creator dedicated board to our forum. You can post FPSC related questions there and we'll try our best to answer them for you. Visit the forum here: http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_read&i=21
FPS Creator Announcement List
We have created a new announcement mailing list specifically for FPS Creator. We will use it for letting you know when FPS Creator is available to purchase. You will only receive email from The Game Creators and only related to FPS Creator. Your email address will never be disclosed or sold to any 3rd party. Get onboard here: //www.thegamecreators.com/?m=view_product&id=2001
|
